Troopers assist four Syracusans finding their way out of Truxton woods

Truxton, NY -- Four brothers from Syracuse got lost Tuesday night in the Morgan Hill State Forest in Truxton and needed assistance from the state police in making their way to civilization, troopers said today.

The four brothers, Zaki Safar, 27, Abdullah Safar, 25, Abdulaziz Safar, 23, and Mahmoud Safar, 21, all of Smith Lane, were hiking the Tinker Falls Trail Tuesday when they became disoriented, troopers said. Zaki Safar called 911 and requested help in getting out of the woods.

A command post was set up in the area of state Route 91. Besides troopers, Cortland County sheriff's deputies, firefighters from the Truxton Fire Department and paramedics from Smith Ambulance were brought to the scene.

At 11:30 p.m., the brothers were able to make their way out of the woods by following the sound of a siren sounding from an emergency vehicle on Shackham Road, troopers said.

Mahmoud Safar, 21, fell in a stream and cut his hand, which required treatment, troopers said, but the other three did not require any medical assistance.